By: Li Ling Lee/Co-editor in Chief
Thursday, November 30 2017, was when the middle and high school bands had their first performance of the year. After playing the National Anthem, the concert started off with the sixth graders, who gave us a sample of how far they’ve progressed in their musicality skills since the first day of school. After showing the audience, they played Hot Cross Buns and a couple other songs. The sixth graders have learned so much and will continue to learn even more as the rest of the year goes on.
Guest conductor, Erin Cole, conducting the high school band.
Next, was the seventh and eighth grade band. They were accompanied by guest conductor, Erin Cole, from Scottsdale, Arizona. She is known to be one of the finest middle school conductors in the country and travels to different schools as an educational clinician to help their bands grow. Cole was the conductor of the first song, Chaos Mountain. For the seventh and eighth grade band’s last song, they played a suite called Midnight Suite, which consisted of three songs: Midnight Mission, Midnight Sky, and Midnight Madness.
After the middle school bands played their songs, it was the high school bands’ turn.
The high school band started off their part of the concert with a flash mob. The song they played, Ode to a Flash Mob, started with the trombone players sitting on stage by themselves. As the song progressed, the different instrument sections walked in and up to their spots on stage while joining the song. Check out the video below of their flash mob.
After their flash mob, the band continued the concert with Convington Square, and then America the Beautiful, which was accompanied by guest conductor, Erin Cole. Guest players Jesse Morvan (trumpet) and Cody Messersmith (tuba) also joined the band for America the Beautiful, Armed Forces Salute, and the last song.
Guest soloist, Christopher Bill.
For their final two songs, Vincent LoRusso, the band director, introduced a guest soloist he had invited to participate in the concert. Christopher Bill, renowned trombone player and popular on youtube, played the solo in Time to Say Goodbye and Nessun Dorma. The band closed the night with a medley of Christmas carols, but there was a twist. Bill was challenged by LoRusso to guess what song the band was playing, to join in with the melody, and on top of that, to improvise his own solo over the melody the band was playing. With the last medley, the concert was over.
To all the members of all of the bands, you all did a great job during your performances. We can’t wait to see what you come up with for your next concert in March!
